07/18/2012 15:25 FAX 2024835142 

67/13/2012 65:48 425227HIB7 

.o 

U.S. Department 

OfT ransportation 

~,federal Aviation 

. Administration 

Office of RegiC>nal Conhsel 

July 13,2012 

FAA 

ANM7 

Northwest Mountain Region 

Colorado. Idal~o, Montana, 

Or¢gon, Utab, Washington, 

.wyomin~ 

.. OMS laJ 002/008 

PAGE et2/13'3 

1601 Li11d Avenue S.W. 

Renton, Washington 98057 

Tel: (425) 227-2161 

Fax~ (425) 227-1007 

J:EPFRJ;.Y .HA:RPER@FA A.OOV 

VIA F ACS!!YfU.-E AND CERTIFIED MJ.\lL • RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 

Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC.:430 

Hearing Docket 

Federal A viatio1.:1 Administration 

(Wilbur Wright Bldg·· Room 2W1QOO) 

SOO Independ¢nc.e Avenue S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 2.0591 

Re~ In the Matter ofSkyWest Airlines, FAA Ca.~:e No~ 2011NM06004!J 

Enclosed is an original and one copy of a request for hearing and Complaint in the abovereferenced proceeding. . , · · 

The Federal Aviation Adnrinistrat)op (P AA) requests that the head~g in this matt~r. be held in Salt 

Lake City, Utah. and expects that the hearing willla.st one (1) day. 

For scheduling purposes. FAA Attpmey, Jeffrey Harper \Vi.ll be unavailable in year 2012: August 10~13, 

September 7-10, October 12-15~ Novembe1· 2-5, November 3l·D~cember 3. 

~lease a.ddrt=ss all commurricatio.llS for the FAA to the undersigned at: 

Sincerely, 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Northwest Mountain Region, ANM-7 

1601 Lind Avenl.\e S, W, 

ReJ).tonl Washington 98057 

Telephone: (425) 227-2161 · FAX: (425) 227-1007 

~~;~ FA.A Attorney 

J!v.tH!ds 

Enclos'U.res: Request for. Hearing (Appeal) 

Con1.plai:nt . 
07/19/2012 15:28 FAX 2624935142 FAA ~ OMS 141003/009 

PAGE 03/B9 

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....... 

JEFFREY HARPE:R 

FAA OFrlCE OF REGIONAL COUNSEL 

160J LIND AVE., SW 

RENTON, W ASH"JNGTON 93057 

TELEPHONE: (425) 227-2161 

F ACSJMTJ ... E: ( 425) 22 7 -I 007 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

OFFICE OF HEARINGS 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

In the Matter of: 

Sky West Airlines 

nJDGE NOT ASSIGNED: 

FAA Case No. 201 I.NM060049 

Judge Not Assigned 

COMPLAINT 

·The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). by counsel, hereby files its Complaint, 

pursu.a\lt to Rule 208 of the Rules ofPractice (14 Cod,e of Federal Regulatjons (CF.R.) Section 

13 .208), and states as follows: 

I. 

On June 21, 2012~ Sky West Airlines, Inc., was advised through a Final Notice of 

Proposed Civil Penalty that the FAA proposed to assess a civil penalty i11 the amount of $50,000. 

On Ju.T,J,e 29, 2012, Sky West A.:irlines, Inc., through legal counsel~ submitted a written request for 

a hearing, 

.TJ. 

49 I. 

so SkyWest Airlines (Sky\Vest), is t'low and was at all times the holder of Scl~eduled Air 

Carner Certificate No. SW:IAOllA, and conducts its operations porsu.ant to Part 121 of 51 

52 

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the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). · 

COMPLAINT 

FAA v, Sky West Air!ino::s, Inc. 

FAA C<ISc:: No, 20l1N'M060049 

Page 2 cf7 

Jl>FFR.J;:Y ]\!(, JiAR.ri~. r AA AT'rOR.NEY 

TEL: 42=1.227.14\7; FAX: 42:3.227.1()07 
07/19/2012 15:26 FAX 2024935142 FAA + OMS @ 004/009 

07/13/2012 05:48 42522710B7 ANM7 PAGE e14/e!'3 

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Paragraph D085 of Sky West's Operations Specifications (O_pSpecs) authorizes SkyWe.<rt 

to use N464SW; a Bombardier CL-600~2Bl9 civil aircraft, in the conduct of Sky West's 

Part 121 operations. 

Bombardier CL-600·2B19 aircraft are also known as CRJ~200 aircraft. 

Paragraph A098 of Sky West"s OpSpecs requires that aircraft loading for Bombardier 

CL-600 .. 2:819 aircraft be accomplished in ~cordance with SkyWest's Weight & Balance 

Operations Manual, "SP41 00, Part XII, revision Orig of 1 A.PR I 0'' 

(W&B Manual). · 

SkyWest's W&B Manual. contains the loading schedules and instructions for SkyWest's 

Bombardier CL~600-2B 19 ~1.r.craft. 

Sky West's W&B Manual, Chapter 4, Pa:ragre.pb 6.B.l.b states: 

«TI1e ballast plates weigh 25 or 50 lb each. To prevent exceeding B.oor bearing 

weight in the AFT cargo b1n!pit, 2'5 lb :plates and 25 lb sandbags are not stacked 

more than two plates or two sandbags high, and 50 lb plates and 50 lb sandbags 

must not be stacked. To prevent exceeding floor beaxin.g weight in forward cargo 

bin/pit~ 50 lb plates and 50 lb sandbags are prohibited, and 25 lb plates and 25 lb 

sandbags must not be stacked." 

Sky West's W&B Manual, Chapter 4, paragraph 6.B lists the floorbearin.g weight limit 

for CRJ 200 airc:raft as "75 lb per sq ft." 

Sky West's W&B Manual, Chapter 4. paragraph 6.BA contains the caution: 

0 CAUTION- When loading ballast, the CS Ground 

Operations Agent verifies ballast does not exceed floo·r 

bearing weight limit. · 

Sky West's W &B Manual, Chapter 4, paragraph 11 -Aircraft Loading, contains the 

warniog: 

COMPLAOO 

6 \'VA.R.NING ·.:.. INACCURATE LOADING, REPORTI-NG, 

OR FAILURE TO REPORT INFORMATJON'COULD 

CAUSE ISSUES WITH AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE AND 

HAND~INQ, RE;SULTING IN THE ENDANGERMENT OF 

HUMAN LIFE. 

fAA"· Sky :West Airlines. Ine. 

FAA C&l:e No. 20 11 NMOt:i0049 

Page 3 of7 

J:EFJ:R."EY M. HART'~ FAA A. TTOI'I.i'IBY 

TE.t.: 425.227,1417; l"'AX: ~25.227.1.007 

·r 
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07/13/2012 86:48 4252271007 

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PAGE 05/09 

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On March 17, 2011, at Rogue Y ~lley lntern,ati,onal - Medford AirPorl (MFR), Medford, 

Oregon, Sky West loaded passengers and bagg,age onto N464SW, to be operated as 

Flight 4 7~9 b~und for Salt Lake City International Ai~po~ (SLC), Salt Lake Chy, Ut~. 

11. . . 

10 12. 

SkyWeses persormeJ at MFR load.ed 'eleven SO lh ballast bags onto N464SW, 

The ballast bags had a len.gth and width of approximately 22 inches x 13 inches. 11 

12 13. Five of the bags were staeked on top of each other. 13 

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The five bags imposed a load on the floor in excess of75 pounds per square foot, 

Sky West thereafter ope1;3.ted N464SW a~ Flight 4729 to SLC. 

III. 

SkyWest has paid civil penalties. in eight previous cases involvi11g loading of cargo 

contrary to approved procedures. 

III. 

2.51 1. By reason of the foregoiTlg facts and circumstances, SkyWest violated the following 30 

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sections of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 C.F.R.): 

a. . Section 119.5(g), in that. as a direct air carrier. it operated in violatio11 of an 

appropriate operations ,speci!iootions, 

37 b. Section 1'19.5(1), i.n that it 9perated aircraft under Part 121 in violation of its 

3 a operations specifications. 39 

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43 2, In accordance with Sections 4630t(a) and (d) ofTitle 49 ofthe Unit~d States Cout.: 

4$ (U.S. C.) (Transportation) (49 U.S.C. Sections 4630l(a) and (d)], SkyWestis liable for a civil 45 

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penaltY not tQ exceed $27.500 for each of the violations noted. 

COMPJJAINT 

FAA v, SkyWcst.Alrlinm, Inc. 

FAA C2(;e No. 2011NM060049 

Pag~: 4 of7 

JEFFREY M. HARPER. FAA A TiOR.NEY 

TEL; 425.227.1417; FA.X! 425.227.100? 
, 07/19/2012 15:26 FAX 2024935142 FAA + OMS ~ 006/009 

PAGE 05/09 

87/13/2012 06:d8 4252271807 ANM7 

' 

l 3. Under the faets and circumstances of this case, a civil penalty of$50,000-is appropriate. 2 

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WHEREFORE, the Agency, by counsel, respectfully requests that the Ad:blinistrative 

Law Judge enter an order that S.kyWest be assessed a civH penalty in the amount of$50,000. 

Respectfully submitted this 13t1l day of July, 2012. 

eyM. ~4~ Harper 

Attorney 

COMPLAINT 

FAA"· SkyWe:st Airline:~~, Inc, 

FAA. Ce3e N<~. 2011NM060D49 

Page !i of7 

J!iFfu'r." M. HARPER, FAA A'ITORNEY 

TEL: 4Z5.227. t 417: f"AX: 4Z5.227.1 007 
07/19/2012 15:28 FAX 2024935142 

07/13/2012 05:4~ 4252271887 

2 

FAA 

ANM7 

ANSWER 

~ OMS ~ 007/009 

F'AGE P.t7/09 

a In accordance With Section 13.209 of the FeQ.eral Aviation Regulations, Sky West Airlines. Inc., 

4 . must answer this Complaint not later than thirty (30) days from the tiine it is ser.ved on it. Failure 

s to file an Answer within thirty (3 0) days without good cause shaJJ be deem.ed an admission of the 

6 ·truth ofeac~ aJ1egati9n contained in the Complaint [14.C.F.R. Section 1.3.209(£)]. 7 

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COMPLA.TNT 

FAA v. Sky West Airlines, Inc. 

FAA Case No. 20 1INM060049 

Page Ei of7 

JE.FFtt~;Y M. H-\J<..PER. F A.A. A. ITORNEY 

ni.: 425,127.1417: FAX: 425.227.1007 
07/19/2012 15:26 FAX 20249351¢2 

07/13/2012 06:48 

l 

2 

<1252271007 

FAA 

ANM7 

C.ERTJFICATE OF SERVICE 

+ OMS ~ 008/009 

PAGE 88/69 

J I hereby certify that the foregoing Complai~t has been served via. facsimile and certified mail ~. 4 :Return Receipt Requested th.is d.ate1 to tl1e following: . , 5 

6 

7 F edetD.l A viatiQn Administ.r:atj,on (Original and one copy) 

s 800 Independence Avenue SW ~ Wash.ington1 D,C, 20591 

~o Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk~ AGC-430 

11 Wilbur Wright Building- Suite 2Wl000 ,2 Fax: (202) 493-5142 

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Todd Emerson, Esq. 

Sky West Airlines 

444 S. River Road 

St. George, UT 84790 

TEL: (435) 634-3530 

FAX; (435)' 634-~505 

2

4 ~ated this 13th day of July, 2012. 

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COMPLAINT 

FAA v. SkyWc:st Airline~, Tnc. 

FAA Case No. 20IINM.060049 

f'age 7 of7 

Datta k®··{ZC~:~~'-L....,;:~=--- Stephenson . 

Office ofRegional Counsel (ANM-7) · Federal Aviation Administration 

1601 LindAve. SW 

Renton., WA 98057 

(425) 227-2164 

JEFFRJ:V )\,!(, HARPER., fAA AT'I'ORNEY 

TEL; 425.227.1417; FAX: 42.5,227.1007 
07/19/2012 15:26 FAX 2024935142 

B?/13/2012 66:48 4252271007 

liOI.<::I:f/<:!.JlZ 12:1.:1 J'AX 4356343505 

Dire~ Dial: 435.634.3530 

Direct Pi.lz: 435.6;l4.!130S 

t::-mail: !gnc..!§.Q!l@.tk.Ywest.e:om 

FAA 

~NM7 

t>~O'PLE 

June 29, 2012 

'!lA FEDERAL EXPRESS 

Federal Aviation Administration 

A TIN: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430. 

Wilbut Wright Building- Suite 2Wl 000 

800 Independence Avenue SW 

Washington, DC 20591 

Re: Case No. 2011NM060049 

Dear Sir!M:adam: 

"' OMS 

··-·· 

The Final Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty in the abo,~reference case was 

received in our office on June 25, 2011. 

Pursuant to §13.16 (e) (2) (ii) o.fFederaJ AirR~gu1ations, SkyWest Airlines hereby requests a hearing on tNs matter. 

~cerely, 

DirectorT~~ Goveinment and Legal Affairs 

TCE.tjb 

cc: J e:fJTey M. Harper 

~44 South River ~oad /.• St. Ge.,rge, lltah B4790 .. :.- Phon~ 435.634,3000 ,:.: www.;l(~st.com 

~ 009/009 

PAGE 69/EJ9 

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